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he flashing of the cameras almost blinded them as Benjamin pulled out of the estate’s gate. Ava had never seen anything like this before. It was like straight out of a movie. Hands pressed against the windows of the car, reporters shouted at them, and the flashes of cameras raged on them like a thunderstorm.
“Is this marriage a sham?”
“Did Elijah leave any notes?”
“For how long do you have to stay married?”
Ava noticed Benjamin had grabbed the steering wheel so tightly, his knuckles turned white.
“Nobody will know, huh?” She bitterly regretted the marriage already as the daunting thought of what people at work might think of her now struck her.
How could she agree to this?Of course, the whole world would know. This was the Radcliff family we were talking about here, not the Millers from next door.
Benjamin gently pushed the reporters out of the way with his car by slowly driving forward. All he needed was a few more feet and they could flee like they were wanted for murder.
They finally made it out. Ava watched in the rear mirror how several of the younger reporters bolted after them in the middle of the road.
Benjamin bit his lip and mumbled to Ava: “What are you so upset about? The opinion of the priests and homeless at the church?” He shook his head in frustration. “All of Manhattan will talk about nothing else. My business partners, friends… every darn person on the street!”
“Oh, sorry. I forgot that only famous billionaires have the right to feel embarrassed. In the future I will make certain to remind the little people like myself of that.”
For a moment Benjamin opened his mouth, but then bit his lower lip. Ava was also done talking. This lunch would be hell.
The restaurant was one of those fancy ones on the outskirts of town. Ava, of course, hadn't eaten there before.
Benjamin had a smug look on his face, openly scoffing at everything as if to remind her that this was nothing to him. Soft music played from a quartet on a little stage and bright chandeliers turned the white décor into shiny objects.
A man walked up to them immediately, bowing politely to Benjamin, his well-ironed suit stretching, and offered Ava a curious gaze before affording the same courtesy to her.
Benjamin didn’t bother to introduce her as his wife and she gladly subscribed to that: the more they lived in that grey area, the easier it’d be for her to get used to the whole arrangement.
“This way please, Mr. Radcliff,” the man said, his pencil moustache looking a little too thin and exaggerated for his long, pale face. The couple followed and sat down at a table the man had assured them was the “best and specially reserved for important guests.” Benjamin grinned glancing over at Ava.
“This is called a wine card,” he said condescendingly, grabbing the smaller of the two leather menus on the table.
“Ook-ook,” Ava grunted like a monkey. Ben got the message and did not explain anything further on the table to her.
They ordered, drank, and ate silently from here on in. Neither looked at each other. Benjamin put down his fork and dabbed his mouth with a napkin.
“This is lovely, darling,” he mumbled as he took a long sip from his wine.
“You know what…” Ava was tempted to push her chair back and leave.
“Yeah?” he raised an eyebrow, his lips stretched into a half-smile.
He’s purposely trying to push you, Ava, calm down. Narrowing her eyes and leaning closer, her voice low, she said, “I know what you’re trying to do, and you know what? Bring it on. We have many more weekends together,” she shivered, “and I have learned a few tricks from the homeless so yeah, let’s see if you can keep up with that.”
His smiled waned as he reached for the bottle of wine, her eyes following his movements. Ava celebrated too soon as suddenly his grin reappeared.
“Well then, let’s make it a fun ride, shall we?” He poured himself another glass and was about to drop the bottle into the crunching bucket of ice when the waiter came running over, his face beaming like a shooting star.
“Congratulations to both of you!” he shouted throwing his arms wide open as if he was about to hug the world. The whole room started clapping and shouting as they slowly rose to their feet.
Ava wanted the ground to swallow her up right there and then. Ben frowned then put on a wide, fake smile for the crowd.
“And that, my dear,” he said emptying his full glass of wine in one swig and as he filled hers up all the way, “is why I brought you to a place with good wine.”
